Device for connecting metal plates.



PATENTED MAY 1'7, 1904'.

APPLICATION FILED APE. 18, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

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c4 D A.. y d d m 2 d f f f w L1 Tr T. 10 E UNITED STATES 'Patented Mey17,1904.

GEORGE WYNDHAM EDWARDS, OE LONDON, ENGLAND.

DEVICE FOR CONNECTING METAL PLATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettere Patent Ne. 760,321, dated Mey 17,1904.

l Application filed .pril 18, 1903. Serial No. 153.243. (No model.)

To all whom, it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WYNDHAM ED p wAEDs, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain and Ireland, residing' at London, England, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Connecting Metal Plates Together, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved means for easily and rapidlyconnecting metal plates together, either temporarily or permanently,such as are used in the construction of iron buildings, roofs, gutters,walls, iioors, culverts, pipes, or for any other like purpose.

According to my invention the ends of the plates to be connected arebent to such a shape as to form in the one plate a tapered male orspigot end and in the other plate a correspondingly tapered female orsocket end. Also at intervals along the edge of the socket end areformed inturned clips or stop-pieces adapted, when the spigot end of oneplate is litted into the socket end of the other plate, to enterrecesses cut in the spigot end and to engage with tongues on said end,thus interlocking the plates together. Means are also provided wherebysaid plates may be readily disconnected.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichmFigure l is an elevation of a rectangular plate having at one side aspigot end and at the opposite side a socket end. Fig. 2 is across-section on line 2 2 of Eig. l. Fig. 3 is an elevation of arectangular plate having male and female ends at its correspondingopposite ends and like male and female ends at its correspondingopposite sides. Fig. L is a cross-section on line 4 A of Fig. 3. Fig. 5ils a cross-section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectionthrough a joint, showing two plates connected together. Fig. 7 is asection through a joint, showing the interlocking clips engaging thetongues on the spigot end. Eig. 8 is an elevation of and Fig. 9 asection through a joint, showinghow the plates can be disconnected. Fig.10 is a section through a joint, showing a way of securing the plates bynuts and bolts. Figs. 11,

12, and 13 are sectional views of curved and `is inclined outward at anangle to b2.

other shaped plates having -spigot or socket ends formed at their edges.

The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the metal plate a, which may be either plain,checkered, corrugated, or molded, has formed at one edge a male orspigot end Z), extending nearly the length of the plate, and at theopposite edge a female or socket end c of a corresponding length to Thespigot end Zi is formed by lirst bending and setting back the plate, asat b', (see Fig. 6,) the part b2 being parallel with the plate a. At 3the plate is bent outward at right angles to b2 and at b4 downward, sothat the partit5 T 1e socket end c is formed by iirst bending 'at c theplate back upon itself, so thatthe part c2 is parallel with the plate.At c3 the plate is bent outward at right angles to c2, and at c* it isbent downward, so that the part c5 is inclined outward at an angle toc2.

The shape and dimensions of the spigot end L of one plate and of thesocket end c of another plate are such that they fit together as shown,and when so litted the part bproj'eets beyond the part c5 and thesurfaces 'of the two plates are iiush. i

The space a: between the top ofthe spigot end and the upper surface ofthe interior of` the socket end is to allow for the expansion of theplates when subjected to a varying temperature, which may be due toclimate or to any other cause.

To interlock the plates, clips or stop-pieces d are formed at intervalsalong the socket end c by cutting the edge and bending' inward a part ofthe sheet. Also at corresponding' intervals along the spigot end tonguese, having a certain amount of spring, are formed by slitting the plate,the length of the tongues being' such that the clips Z engage their endwhen the plate-s are litted together.

To connect two plates tand af together, the spigot end of the plate a isinserted into the socket end of the plate a' and forced home, the clips(Z pressing against and springing the tongues e inward until the saidclips pass the end of the tongues, when the latter spring back to theirinitial position and become engaged with the clips, thus interlockingthe two plates. j

For the purpose of disconnecting the plates a hole f is made in the partc" of the socket end a little above each clip cl, and a drift or pointedrod g is employed, which is inserted into the hole f and pressed againstthe tongue e, causing it to spring inward until it is clear of the clipd, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9,- when the plates can be pulled apart, andthus disconnected.

In some instances it may be desirable to secure the plates whenconnected by bolts and nuts, and for this purpose bolts t (see Fig. l0)are passed through holes made in the joint and fitted with taperedwashers 2 and nuts j, packing-blocks 7c being inserted in the spigot endto prevent the joint being crushed when thev nuts are tightened up.

The plate shown in Figs. 3,v 4, and 5 and having either spigot or socketyends formed at its four sides can have similar plates connected to eachside, and to these plates other plates can be connected, and thuspractically any area of connected plates can be built up.

Fig. l1 shows how the spigot and socket ends are arrangedA in a curvedplate, such as might be used for culverts or for building up pipes orother purposes, and Figs. l2 and 13 show how the spigot and socket endsare arranged, in the former figure for right-angled bends and in thelatter figure for bends at an angle of forty-five degrees.

The joint above described is wind and water tight, and it can be madetight against water or liquid under pressure if, when fitting up apacking of white lead, putty, tar, or .other suitable substance beinserted between the spigot and socket ends of the joint.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is* l. A joint forconnecting and interlocking metal plates, comprising a male or spigotend on one plate, formed as an inclined plane or taper end and acorresponding female or socket end on a contiguous plate, and means forsecuring one plate to the other by means of said correlated ends.

2. Means for connecting and interlocking metal plates together,comprising .a male or spigot end formed on the one plate to beconnected, and a female or socket end formed on the other plate to beconnected, into which the male or spigot end lits, and clips formed onthe socket end adapted to engage with tongues on the spigot end when theplates are connected, thus interlocking the said plates.

3. The means for connecting metal plates together, comprising a taperedmale or spigot end ony one plate a and a tapered female or socket end onthe plate a' connected to it; the male or spigot end being formed byfirst bending and setting back the plate a so that the .part b2 isparallel with the plate, bending plate at b3 at right angles to 62, andthen bending at downward so that part b5 is at an angle to 2; and thefemale or socket end being formed by rst bending' the plate a' at cVback upon itself so that the part c2 is parallel with the plate, bendingplate at c3 at right angles to c2, and then bending at ci downward sothat the part c5 is at an angle to c2, the male end being made to fitthe female end.

4f. In plates connected together by a male or spigot end in one plateengaging a female or socket end in the other plate, the means forinterlocking said plates, comprising clips formed on the socket end andadapted to engage with tongues on the spigot end when the plates arefitted together.

5. The combination with a plurality of plates united by a male orvspigot end in one plate engaging a female or socket end in the otherplate, of means in the spigot end for supporting and preventing thecrushing thereof under pressure.

G. The combination with a plurality of plates united by a male or spigotend in one plate engaging a female or socket end in the other plate, andinterlocking clips, of means for disconnecting the plates, consisting ofan aperture in the outer plate for the admission to the inner plate of adrift or pointed rod, for the purpose of breaking the joint between thetwo plates.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE WYNDHAM EDWARDS.

Witnesses:

R. lEsTAooTT, ALFRED NUTTING.

